過去帳

• Reading: かこちょう
• Romaji: kakochō
• Kanji breakdown: 過 (ka/sugi) — past, to pass; 去 (ko/sa) — to leave; 帳 (chō) — ledger, register
• Pronunciation: /ka.ko.tɕoː/

Meaning

Death register; a Buddhist memorial book recording the posthumous names, death dates, and ages of deceased family members. Kept at temples or in the home altar.

A formal noun referring to the ledger maintained by Buddhist temples or individual families to record information about the deceased, used in ancestor veneration practices. Each entry typically includes the 戒名 (posthumous Buddhist name), the death date, and the age at death. Appears in literature, historical dramas, and genealogical research.

Examples

1. 寺の過去帳には数百年分の先祖の記録が残っていた。 The temple's death register contained records of ancestors spanning several hundred years.
2. 祖母が亡くなった後、仏壇に過去帳が置かれるようになった。 After my grandmother passed away, a death register was placed at the household altar.
3. 家系を調べるため、菩提寺で過去帳を閲覧させてもらった。 To research my family lineage, I was allowed to view the death register at our family temple.

Usage Guide

Context: Buddhist tradition, ancestor veneration, family history, temples

Tone: solemn

Origin & History

Compound of 過去 (past; also a Buddhist term for one's previous existence) and 帳 (ledger, register). The Buddhist connotation of 過去 — referring to the deceased and their prior life — gives the word its memorial resonance.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: Adults and elderly

Social background: Universal